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Global: ILO member states must not give in to Saudi demands for dismissal of migrant labour complaint

Source: Amnesty International –

To mark the start of the 23 March-2 April meeting of the 356th Session of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Governing Body, which will consider a formal complaint filed by African trade unions against the Saudi Arabian government concerning persistent and widespread violations and abuses of migrant workers’ rights contrary to its obligations under various ILO treaties, Steve Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International, said:

“The Saudi Arabian government is actively seeking to have this ILO Complaint buried. However, despite some recent legal reforms, Saudi Arabia’s kafala sponsorship system has not been effectively dismantled and continues to expose millions of migrant workers to significant risk of abuse, including forced labour.  The ILO should continue to scrutinize the case until there is clear evidence that the reforms are genuinely improving migrant workers’ lives.

Many workers are still burdened with illegal recruitment fees, deceived during recruitment and subjected to wage theft.

Steve Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice, Amnesty International,

“Saudi Arabia’s attempt to hide behind recent reforms and procedural arguments, without producing a shred of credible data to show these reforms are actually being implemented, should fool no one. Members of the Governing Body must not be distracted by rhetoric when the evidence of ongoing abuse is overwhelming.

“Today, as our own research shows, many workers are still burdened with illegal recruitment fees, deceived during recruitment, and subjected to wage theft, excessively long hours, unsafe or degrading living and working conditions, and severe restrictions on movement. Domestic workers are especially at risk, with many facing confinement, extreme overwork, and physical or sexual abuse, all while remaining excluded from core labour protections.

“Amnesty International is calling for the ILO Governing Body members to heed the urgency and severity of the abuses presented in the complaint brought by African trade unions and reject claims from Saudi authorities that continued ILO scrutiny is unnecessary.”

Amnesty International is a signatory to a joint statement with partner human rights groups collectively calling on ILO Governing Body members to reject the Saudi Arabian government’s efforts to dismiss the Article 26 complaint brought by African trade unions.

Background 

The complaint, lodged under Article 26 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization (ILO), calls for urgent international action and accountability. 

The complaint documents widespread forced labour, wage theft, physical and sexual abuse and systemic racism, particularly – but not exclusively – targeting African migrant workers who experienced being locked in homes, forced to work 18 to 20 hours a day, denied wages, healthcare and rest, and subjected to beatings and harassment. 

The abuses documented in the complaint are consistent with research and reporting of other organizations, including Amnesty International.  

 In January, the Government of Saudi Arabia responded to the complaint and asked for it to be dismissed.

Saudi Arabia has ratified a number of core ILO human rights conventions which require it to guarantee protection against against forced labour, discrimination, and other abuses, ensure fair and decent working conditions for all workers without distinction, and uphold workers’ fundamental rights to justice, remedy, and effective protection under the law.

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Israeli forces using Gaza playbook in Lebanon, decimating water infrastructure

Source: Oxfam –

Oxfam fears that Israel’s military blueprint of attacking water infrastructure, used throughout its genocide in Gaza, is now being rolled out across parts of Lebanon.

Israeli forces are destroying water and sanitation infrastructure including strikes near sites that were being rehabilitated after having been destroyed or damaged in the last war, Oxfam analysis has found.  

The Geneva conventions prohibit attacks on water installations and other objects that are critical for people to survive. Using deprivation of water as a method of warfare is outlawed. Any intentional deprivation of water or obstruction of aid may constitute a war crime. 

In a span of four days in the first weeks of the latest escalation, Israel damaged at least seven critical water sources including reservoirs, pipe networks and pumping stations that supplied water to almost 7,000 people in the Bekaa area alone.  

In Southern Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes after Israel’s blanket mass forced displacement orders, Oxfam and partners are responsible for carrying out rehabilitation work at 19 important water facilities that provide clean water for up to 60,000 people. Six were damaged by Israeli bombardment in last year’s escalation. There have been confirmed strikes in many of the areas where these facilities are located. 

Due to the intensity of the attacks in these areas, Oxfam teams cannot now safely access these sites to assess whether they too are now destroyed or damaged or ensure they are functioning properly so that people remaining in the villages have water. Long-term impacts will also be devastating for communities if they don’t have clean water when they are able to return home.  

The destruction of civilian infrastructure has not been limited to critical water facilities. Israel has also destroyed electricity networks and bridges, cutting off vital supplies and services for entire towns and villages.   

Bachir Ayoub, Oxfam Lebanon Country Director, said: “It’s clear that the Israeli Forces are repeating the same pattern in Lebanon as they did in Gaza. Attacking civilians, critical civilian infrastructure, emergency services personnel – including 12 medics killed in a single strike – and aid workers. Aiming to maximize disruption and fear among the population, while ignoring international law. 

“The impunity Israel enjoyed in Gaza as it committed water war crimes is again on full display. The world has shown Israel can do what it wants, whenever it wants, without repercussion and again it is civilians who are paying the ultimate price for this inaction.” 

During the 2024 escalation, Israel damaged more than 45 water networks in Lebanon, impacting almost half a million people, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and contributing to the loss of livelihoods and green areas. Given the ongoing lack of accountability that has allowed Israel to consistently violate international law across the region, Oxfam is concerned these renewed attacks will see a sharp rise in the destruction of civilian infrastructure that is already occurring.  

Despite the scale of destruction and mounting evidence of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, Oxfam says the international community remains complicit in its silence and, in many cases, support to Israel as it continues to occupy and invade parts of Lebanon.  

“There must be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and end to this war” said Ayoub. 

“The international community stood by in Gaza and watched Israel’s weaponization of water and its catastrophic consequences to men, women and children there. The same devastation must not be allowed to play out again in Lebanon. Israel must be held to account for its violations and must not be allowed to occupy more land, deny more civilians of their basic rights, and continue to abuse international law without consequence.” 

Ends 

Media contact: Roslyn Boatman, Beirut roslyn.boatman@oxfam.org +961 79 178 540  

In the policy brief Water Under Fire: Supporting Lebanon’s Water Services Amid Escalating Conflict  Oxfam reached out to water establishments across three highly impacted regions in Lebanon after Israeli attacks. 

In July 2024 Oxfam released the report Water War Crimes: How Israel has weaponised water in its military campaign in Gaza presenting a detailed analysis of how the Government of Israel systematically weaponized water against the Palestinians in its latest assault on Gaza. 

Before the latest escalation, Oxfam was rehabilitating eight water pumping systems in Mansouri, Nmairiyyeh, Srifa, Zaita, Ankoun, Allousiyyeh, Kfardounin and Jbal Al Botom. Three water networks in Tyre, Kherbit Silm and Khiam, four reservoirs in Ater, Toura and Zebkin and four water filtration systems in Mais Eljabal, Bintjbeil, Kfartebnit and Deir Knaoun Nahr.

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Kyrgyzstan: Authorities must drop trumped up charges against Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy following her release from prison

Source: Amnesty International –

Responding to a decision by a court in Kyrgyzstan to release investigative journalist and Temirov LIVE editor-in-chief Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy from custody and subject her to a travel ban pending a retrial, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:

“While Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy’s release from prison is a long-overdue step towards justice that allows her to reunite with her son, it does not erase the human rights violations she has already endured and those she faces with possible retrial.”

“The Kyrgyzstani authorities should immediately drop all charges and lift the travel ban against Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy, and provide her with an effective remedy for the violations she has already suffered.

“The targeting of Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy, and earlier, of her colleagues from Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese media projects, sends a chilling message to investigative journalists across the country. No journalist should be prosecuted solely for reporting on matters of public interest. The authorities must abide by Kyrgyzstan’s international human rights obligations and provide a safe environment for independent journalism and ensure full respect for the right to freedom of expression.”

The targeting of Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy, and earlier, of her colleagues from Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese media projects, sends a chilling message to investigative journalists across the country. No journalist should be prosecuted solely for reporting on matters of public interest

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director

Background

On 23 March, the Lenin District Court of Bishkek ordered Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy’s release after more than two years’ detention, replacing her custodial measure with a travel restriction. The decision followed a ruling by the Supreme Court on 10 March to overturn her previous conviction and retry her case.

Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy was arrested in January 2024 along with other journalists and media workers associated with Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese, two independent media projects that have investigated alleged corruption in Kyrgyzstan. She and her colleague Azamat Ishenbekov faced trumped up charges of “inciting mass unrest,” and were sentenced to six and five years’ imprisonment respectively, on 10 October 2024. Makhabat’s husband, prominent investigative journalist Bolot Temirov, had previously been stripped of his Kyrgyzstani citizenship and forced into exile. Azamat Ishenbekov was released on 9 April 2025 by presidential pardon.

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Energy Transfer facility reportedly saw the worst methane plume in the U.S. in 2025

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Energy Transfer Flare Red Lake Gas Plant Flare Emissions
© Oilfield Witness

The Guardian has reported that the largest methane emissions in the U.S. in 2025 detected by space-based observers appear to originate from an Energy Transfer facility in Texas. Greenpeace USA’s December 2025 report, Bad Neighbor, documented Energy Transfer’s long track record of pollution and violations. While this methane plume was not included in our report, it definitely fits the pattern documented there.

This dubious distinction comes from an analysis by the Stop Methane Project at UCLA, using methane detection data from two space-based instruments (Planet Labs’ Tanger-1 satellite and NASA’s EMIT instrument based on the International Space Station) as compiled by Carbon Mapper. Of the top 25 biggest plumes globally, 23 were attributed to state-owned oil and gas companies in Turkmenistan, Iran and Venezuela. 

Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 84-87 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year timescale. Methane emissions often happen together with the release of other air pollutants that can damage human health – including cancer-causing pollutants such as benzene. As one of the UCLA researchers told the Guardian, “Americans should be surprised and angered by the fact that the US lands pretty high on this list of top super-polluting plumes.”

Inspection of the Carbon Mapper data indicates that the source could be associated with Energy Transfer’s Red Lake or Lenorah Gas Plants, which are located in Stanton, TX near the Permian Basin. The data shows that methane emissions were detected on two dates in 2025 (with no emissions detected on two other dates). The largest event on August 8, 2025 released an estimated 21.5 metric tons of methane per hour, and the weighted average emissions rate for the year was 5.5 metric tons per hour. The Guardian estimates these emissions were equivalent to “a million fuel-guzzling SUVs.”

This average rate was the  9th largest oil and gas source in 2025. Energy Transfer was one of only two private oil companies, and the only U.S. company, to make the global top 25. According to The Guardian, Energy Transfer “did not reply to a request for comment.” The Permian Basin is the largest oil and gas producing region in the U.S. and other satellite observations have found it to be one of the largest methane hot spots around the globe.

As our Bad Neighbor report documented, Energy Transfer has grown significantly in recent years and now claims to transport approximately 30% of U.S. natural gas and 40% of U.S. crude production. During this time period, ET’s operations in the Permian have experienced numerous methane emissions events that have been detected by land-, air-, and space-based observers.

These are not the only events detected from the Red Lake Gas Plant. In September 2025, investigators with Oilfield Witness observed emissions from a flare at the Red Lake Gas Plant using optical gas imaging (OGI) cameras.

A search of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Air Emissions Event database does not show any reported events on the two dates reported by Carbon Mapper for either the Red Lake or Lenorah gas plants. However, both plants did report a large emissions event on January 23, 2026. The event lasted 16 hours and involved flaring of “residue gas” as a result of disruptions from Winter Storm Fern. Thousands of pounds of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds were emitted from the two plants during the event.

Oilfield Witness has documented nearly 70 similar emissions events from oil and gas operations in Texas as a result of Winter Storm Fern.

As part of his reckless assault on environmental protections, the Trump Administration has weakened, eliminated, and rolled back numerous regulations designed to fix the methane problem.

Read our full Bad Neighbor report

Learn more about Energy Transfer’s history of spills, gas releases, pollution, safety violations, and regulatory penalties.

Read Report
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International Day of Forests: Greenpeace Africa calls for accelerated reforms to secure community rights in Cameroon

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Yaoundé, March 21, 2026 – On the occasion of the International Day of Forests, Greenpeace Africa organized a public mobilization in Yaoundé aimed at raising awareness about the protection of the Congo Basin forests and the rights of local communities.

To mark this day, the organization brought together youth, civil society actors, public institutions, journalists, and scientists around public engagement activities, including panel discussions, exhibitions, and mobilization initiatives. The objective was to strengthen collective awareness and build a united front against the threats facing forests and biodiversity.

The results of investigations conducted by journalists in Cameroon reveal an alarming expansion of mining activity in the East of the country. In just 14 years, the mining area there has increased by 5,000%, growing from 82 hectares in 2010 to over 4,600 hectares in 2024. This dynamic has been accompanied by an estimated loss of nearly 270,000 hectares of primary forest.

Forests play an essential role in climate regulation, particularly at the local level, and contribute, along with soils, to carbon storage. In this context, the International Day of Forests serves as a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen their protection and to combat environmental crime and governance failures more effectively.

The mobilization held in Yaoundé also facilitated a constructive dialogue on forest governance, the securing of community land rights, and the promotion of sustainable solutions led by indigenous peoples and  local communities (IPLCs).

For Greenpeace Africa, these reforms are essential to ensure the effective protection of forests and the well-being of the populations that depend on them.

“The exploitation of natural resources very often takes place on lands claimed by communities under their customary land rights. Far from fostering local development, these projects cause considerable environmental and social damage and threaten ecosystems that communities have protected for generations,” stated Stella Tchoukep, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.

Local communities and indigenous peoples are thus deprived of their agricultural lands and forests, once sources of livelihood, today degraded and polluted.

Greenpeace Africa calls on the Cameroonian government to strengthen forest protection mechanisms and guarantee the rights of the communities whose livelihoods depend on them. Specifically, the organization urges decision-makers to:

  • Recognize and secure the customary land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities within the ongoing reforms;
  • Establish a moratorium on new oil, gas, mining, and agro-industrial projects in areas of high ecological value;
  • Guarantee direct and equitable access for communities to climate and biodiversity funding;
  • Promote community-led solutions, such as agroecology and sustainable local economies developed within community forests.

This mobilization also takes place in a context where Greenpeace Africa has launched a petition calling on the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to recognize the climate crisis, caused in part by deforestation, as a human rights violation.

Stella Tchoukep, Forest Campaigner,  [email protected] , +237 6 94 59 06 79

Luchelle Feukeng Tabo, Communication and storytelling manager, Greenpeace Afrique  [email protected]/+237656463545

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Oceans Governments must curb corporate interference in Global Ocean Treaty as key talks begin Greenpeace is demanding governments curb corporate interference in ocean protection, as crucial Ocean Treaty talks begin at UN headquarters in New York today. The talks are expected to have a… by Alexandra Sedgwick March 23, 2026

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Greenpeace is demanding governments curb corporate interference in ocean protection, as crucial Ocean Treaty talks begin at UN headquarters in New York today.

The talks are expected to have a crucial impact on the power of destructive industrial fishing activity on the high seas, which campaigners say could have “catastrophic” consequences.[1]

Megan Randles, head of Greenpeace’s delegation to the talks, said:

“The fishing industry has been lobbying to weaken the Ocean Treaty for years. We need governments to curb corporate influence now, stop kowtowing to industry pressure, and stop the process from being tied up in delays. If they don’t, the result will be catastrophic for ocean protection. 

“The organisations that manage fishing in the high seas have always protected industry interests, that’s why we’re calling for a limit on how much influence they would have on sanctuary proposals, which are urgently needed for the ocean to recover. Governments must not allow the fishing industry’s influence to hold the Treaty process to ransom.”

Fully protected sanctuaries would cordon off huge areas of the ocean from destructive human activity, but it’s something that the fishing industry has been lobbying against for years. 

Greenpeace is calling on governments to curb the influence of fishing industry lobbying before it’s too late, and ensure that fully protected high seas sanctuaries can be created without delay. Governments must therefore impose a maximum 120 day time limit for the review of sanctuary proposals, this would prevent the organisations that control high seas fishing, and fishing industry interests, from stalling the process. These Regional Fishing Management Organisations (RFMOs) have always protected the interests of the fishing industry, overseen the decimation of biodiversity and destruction of entire ecosystems, and therefore must not be allowed to tie up ocean protection in delays.[2]  

Governments have committed to protecting 30% of the ocean in the next four years, a target that scientists say is the absolute minimum required for the ocean to bounce back from decades of destruction. Making sure that the process of creating sanctuaries isn’t tied up in delays will be vital to this progress. 

It is in the best interest of the fishing industry that RFMOs retain their power over the high seas. That’s why during the Ocean Treaty negotiations, they lobbied governments hard to ensure that the Treaty wouldn’t undermine RFMO power. They even tried and failed to remove fishing activity from the scope of the Global Ocean Treaty altogether. This would have been a disaster for ocean protection.

ENDS 

Notes: 

  1. The next round of Ocean Treaty talks, the Third Preparatory Commission (Prepcom 3), will begin at the United Nations in New York on 23 March. They are extremely important as key recommendations will be made on how the first Ocean COP (expected some time before January 2027) can deliver the protection needed to allow the ocean to recover from decades of destruction.
  2. Out of an assessment of 48 high seas fish stocks we know to be in the high seas 75% were considered depleted or overfished in 2016. 
  3. The fishing industry has been actively lobbying against ocean protection measures and to protect its profit margins for decades. Last year, InfluenceMap found that nearly all major seafood companies lobby against ocean protection. Twenty-nine of the 30 biggest seafood firms analysed were pushing policies that clash with global biodiversity goals. Behind the scenes, the same players were working to block the creation or expansion of ocean sanctuaries. 
  4. A full media briefing is available.

Contact:

Florri Burton, Global Media Lead, Oceans Are Life, Greenpeace Nordic

 +447896523839, florri.burton@greenpeace.org 
Greenpeace International Press Desk: +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org

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Nuclear Scientists Return to Lake Tanganyika 50 Years After First Scientific Mission

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Tareq Aldakheelallah, IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation

Lake Tanganika is shared by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, rising waters are disrupting economic activity and daily life. The lake is shared by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. During the past five years, its water levels have increased by more than a metre. Beaches have closed and some areas with lakeside housing and cabins are now fully submerged and have been evacuated. Roads and hotels along the shoreline have also been affected.

Scientists in Burundi Working with IAEA

While these impacts are visible on land, the processes beneath the surface are less clear. With support  from the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, scientists from Burundi are working with IAEA experts to better understand changes in the lake’s water conditions using isotope hydrology. 

This effort echoes a pioneering 1973 expedition, when Harmon Craig and colleagues from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), worked with national institutions including the Burundi Fisheries Department, first studied the lake’s chemistry and circulation. More than 50 years later, nuclear scientists have returned to help explain how the lake is changing.

Rising water levels have affected roads along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, impacting transport and local communities.  (Photo: IAEA)

Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake on Earth and the second largest lake in the world by volume and depth. It is shared by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia and supports fisheries, agriculture, transport and tourism across the region.

“Lake Tanganyika is not only important for Burundi. It is shared with three other countries. Its water management is essential, as it has long been a source of fish, drinking water and recreation for communities along its shores,” said Gilbert Nijimbere, Professor at the University of Burundi.

What is Isotope Hydrology?

Isotope hydrology is a nuclear technique that uncovers how water moves through the land, ocean and atmosphere. This technique provides data to facilitate informed decision making to address water management challenges.

Read more: What is Isotope Hydrology? 

The IAEA-supported mission in February this year brought together two IAEA experts, two international specialists and two scientists from the University of Burundi. Over the course of the expedition, the team collected around 160 water samples from different lake depths, as well as from nearby rivers and groundwater sources.

Experts in Burundi are using isotope-based tracing techniques to better understand how water circulates within Lake Tanganyika, how its layers interact and how conditions may be changing over time. Some of these methods also help determine how long deep waters have remained isolated from the surface. 

The measurements from the landmark 1973 scientific expedition provide an important scientific baseline for understanding how the lake has changed over the past half century.

“It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to reapply the isotopic techniques used in 1973 to examine how conditions in the lake may have changed over time,” said Bradley McGuire, an isotope hydrologist joining the 2026 mission from the IAEA. 

IAEA experts and scientists from the University of Burundi collect water samples from Lake Tanganyika as part of efforts to understand changes in the lake’s conditions. (Photo: IAEA)

Deepest Waters of Lake Tanganyika 2000 Years Old

In 1973, Craig’s team collected hundreds of water samples from different depths and locations across the northern part of the lake. Their research found that Lake Tanganyika is organized in distinct layers.

The upper layers of the lake, influenced by wind and seasonal changes, were observed to mix down to a depth of roughly 100 metres, providing a connection to the atmosphere and introducing oxygen which supports larger biological life. Below this mixing zone, however, deeper layers of the lake appeared isolated. Oxygen was absent and water was believed to remain undisturbed for long periods of time.

In fact, scientists estimated that some of the deepest water was much older than the lake’s surface water, mirroring the age of deep ocean water around 2000 years, and effectively preserving a record of past environmental and climatic conditions. This layered structure means Lake Tanganyika behaves more like a miniature ocean than a typical lake.

Scientists have compared Lake Tanganyika to a miniature ocean, as its waters are thousands of years old. (Photo: IAEA). 

New Measurements Reveal Depths of Oxygenated Waters Have Decreased

Preliminary observations indicate that the depth of oxygenated waters has decreased significantly compared with measurements taken in 1973. At that time oxygen extended to about 100 metres, while new measurements suggest that oxygen now reaches only around 80 metres, indicating potential changes in mixing processes and ecological conditions within the lake. 

Researchers also observed that the water area between 50 metres and 80 metres appears to be a zone of oxygen stress, where oxygen levels are almost half of the oxygenated zone .

The expedition required careful coordination, including alignment with historic sampling locations, verifying equipment, and ensuring consistency with earlier measurements. Despite these challenges, the team was able to gather enough samples for detailed laboratory analysis.

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IAEA Hosts Conference on the Safe and Secure Transport of Nuclear and Radioactive Material

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Emma Midgley, Office of Public Information and Communiction

The conference will provide an international forum to address all aspects related to safety and security during transport, from regulatory and policy issues to the use of drones and artificial intelligence. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA).

The IAEA is hosting an international conference this week focused on strengthening the safe and secure transport of nuclear and other radioactive material. Around 20 million global shipments of radioactive material are made every year to support peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.  

Read more: How is Nuclear Material Transported Safely and Securely?

Bringing together experts from governments, regulators, technical support organizations, industry and research institutions, the event will be held from 23 to 27 March. The conference will provide an international forum to address all aspects related to safety and security during transport, from regulatory and policy issues to the use of drones and artificial intelligence. It will also explore the transport of small modular reactors (SMRs) and floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs).  

Read more: What are small modular reactors (SMRs)?

Ditebogo Kgomo, Conference Co-President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Nuclear Regulator in South Africa, delivers opening remarks. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

“The safe transport of nuclear and radioactive materials is necessary for global safety, public confidence and the responsible use of nuclear technologies,” said Ditebogo Kgomo, Conference Co-President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Nuclear Regulator in South Africa. 

“As these materials move across borders and through complex logistical networks, international collaboration and shared expertise become indispensable. The conference participants will gain valuable insights into emerging challenges, evolving regulatory frameworks, innovative solutions that enhance both safety and security associated with transport of nuclear and radioactive materials. We look forward to engaging the global community to ensure that transport of these vital materials remains safe, secure, and resilient.”

 “Transport security is not merely a logistical concern but it is a foundation of sustainable nuclear development and non-proliferation,” said Pennapa Kanchana, Conference Co-President and Inspector General at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Thailand. 

“With the expanding use of radioactive materials and the emergence of technologies like SMRs, the way nuclear and radioactive materials move across borders is transforming, and the international community must rise to the challenge and ensure that our frameworks are as forward-looking as the innovations. This conference provides a vital platform to align policies, elevate standards, strengthen cooperation and build the trust necessary to secure materials in transit.” 

The conference will feature plenary discussions, panel sessions, a scenario based policy discussion and poster presentations, enabling member countries to exchange practical experience on transport safety, security including regulation, emergency preparedness and technological innovation.

The opening plenary session will give an overview of the global landscape for the safe and secure transport of nuclear and other radioactive material. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The Global Landscape of Transport Safety and Security

The opening plenary will give an overview of the global landscape for the safe and secure transport of nuclear and other radioactive material, outlining current trends, cross‑border considerations and areas where there is potential for further harmonization.

Throughout the week, panel sessions will explore specialized themes, including:

  • Transport of nuclear and other radioactive material in times of crisis: examining the continuity of operations and emergency decision making under challenging conditions. 
  • Regulatory challenges associated with the transport of SMRs and FNPPs.
  • Sustainable supply chain for radiopharmaceuticals: ensuring that patients have reliable access to radiopharmaceuticals, essential for life‑saving diagnostics and therapies.
  • Public communication: discussing approaches for improving awareness and trust related to the movement of nuclear and other radioactive material. 

Safety by Package Design

A major focus of the conference is safety by package design, addressed through several technical sessions examining innovations in shielding and containment as well as practical certification processes for transport packages. Six dedicated sessions allow experts to compare design approaches, testing methodologies and lessons learned from real world applications.

Security in Support of Advanced and Innovative Technologies

Given the critical importance of security in the successful delivery of both existing nuclear and other radioactive material transports, a number of security focused technical sessions are planned to support the international interest shown in the employment of new technologies such as SMRs and FNPPs.

Other technical sessions consider:

  • Transport security practices and challenges: covering physical protection, vulnerability assessment and coordination among national competent authorities. 
  • Computer security for transport systems: discussing computer security threats, infrastructure protection and digital resilience across the transport chain. 
  • Advanced fuel cycle transport: focusing on innovations in packaging and shipment for new fuel types and advanced reactor technologies. 

The agenda also highlights the potential role of battery and hydrogen powered vehicles in radioactive material transport, examining associated safety and security implications. 

A specialized panel will explore the safe and secure transport of disused radioactive sources. 

Strengthening Preparedness and Response

Preparedness and response in case of incidents during transport will be discussed, with two sessions dedicated to scenario based planning and practical approaches for managing incidents. 

Read more: What are Radioactive Sources?

International Cooperation and Regulatory Frameworks

Several sessions will address the international frameworks governing the transport of nuclear and other radioactive material, including legal instruments, safety standards, and security instruments. Discussions cover:

Sessions on national and international shipments, sea transport and civil liability considerations will provide additional space for countries to exchange on national practices and identify areas where common approaches could facilitate smoother transport operations. 

Human Capacity Building and Safety–Security Culture

Recognizing the critical role of well trained personnel, the conference offers discussions on human resource development, safety–security culture and approaches to building national competence in regulatory and operational roles. 

Side events, a poster session and a technical exhibition complement the main programme, showcasing ongoing research, new tools and countries’ experiences.

The conference is supported by funding from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Follow the conference on social media with the hashtag #SafeSecureTransport.

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IAEA Database: About 55% of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material Thefts Since 1993 Occurred During Transport

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

More than half of all thefts of nuclear and other radioactive material reported to the Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) since 1993 occurred during authorized transport, with the share rising to nearly 70% in the past decade. The new data released today by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) underlines the need for continued vigilance in transport security.

Of the 4626 reported incidents in the ITDB from 1993 to 2025, 730 were thefts of radioactive material, including attempted thefts. Almost 55% of those thefts occurred during transport, and in more than 59% of those transport-related cases – about 400 incidents – the stolen radioactive material has not been recovered.

“Nuclear and other radioactive material remains vulnerable to security threats during transport, and data from the ITDB underscores the continued need to strengthen security,” said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security. “The IAEA assists countries, upon request, in enhancing their national nuclear security regimes to ensure that such materials are securely managed and fully protected against criminal or intentional unauthorized acts during their transport.” 

The ITDB is the IAEA’s information system on incidents of illicit trafficking and other unauthorized activities and events involving nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control. While most incidents are not linked to trafficking or malicious intent, their occurrence reflects persistent challenges in transport security, regulatory control, disposal practices and detection. 

In 2025, 236 incidents were reported by 34 of the 145 ITDB participating States. This number is higher than in 2024 – 147 incidents – however, the increase is attributed to retrospective reporting. 

All types of nuclear material – including uranium, plutonium and thorium – as well as naturally occurring and artificially produced radioisotopes, and radioactively contaminated material found in scrap metal are included in the ITDB’s scope. Incidents at metal recycling sites involving manufactured goods contaminated with radioactive material continue to be reported to ITDB, indicating an ongoing challenge for some countries in securing disused radioactive sources and detecting their unauthorized disposal. 

The release of the ITDB factsheet coincides with this week’s International Conference on the Safe and Secure Transport of Nuclear and Radioactive Material. The IAEA estimates that millions of shipments of nuclear and other radioactive material are transported annually for peaceful applications in energy, medicine, education, agriculture and industry. 

The conference provides the international transport community with a platform to discuss opportunities, challenges and key enablers for the safe and secure transport of nuclear and other radioactive material. The conference will cover legal and regulatory aspects, transport package design, operations, commercial and supply chain considerations, and innovative technologies that have the potential to impact transport safety and security.

About the ITDB

The ITDB fosters global information exchange about incidents that involve nuclear and other radioactive material falling out of regulatory control because they were lost, stolen, improperly disposed of or otherwise neglected. The database also includes reports about material returning under regulatory control through various means, for example, through the detection of orphan radioactive sources in metal recycling facilities. The ITDB data is voluntarily reported, and only participating States can fully access it, while international organizations, such as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), have limited access.

The ITDB covers incidents involving nuclear material, radioisotopes and radioactively contaminated material. By reporting lost or stolen material to the ITDB, countries increase the chances of its recovery and reduce the opportunities for it to be used in criminal activities. States can also report scams or hoaxes where the material is purported to be nuclear or otherwise radioactive.

States wishing to join the ITDB need to submit the request to the IAEA through the official channels (i.e. Permanent Mission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a national competent authority for nuclear security matters).

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Australia must not follow dystopian US-style data centre path of Big Tech overreach and emissions blow out

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

SYDNEY, Monday 23 March 2026 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has labelled the Federal government’s new expectations for data centres and AI infrastructure released today as seriously inadequate, failing to address the massive impacts of the facilities on our energy systems and society, and enabling US-style Big Tech overreach and deregulation.

Greenpeace says the dizzying scale of new AI data centre development in Australia threatens to derail the energy transition by prolonging reliance on polluting fossil fuels, increasing electricity prices and consuming enormous quantities of water — all to power an industry which may be enabling socially harmful outcomes. 

Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “The frenzied build out of AI data centres in Australia is breathtaking, and following a dangerous US-style path where Big Tech corporations have carte blanche to drain local energy and water, and build new, polluting gas and diesel-powered plants to fuel their operations.

“Australia is following the US down the same dystopian path of unregulated AI data centre expansion and overreach by Big Tech corporations that are at best driving significant climate and environmental harm and at worst, generating illegal explicit images or supporting the US military to bomb civilians in Iran. 

“These billionaire-run companies like Amazon, Open AI, Meta have time and again shown themselves to be morally impaired, with not even the best interests of humanity, let alone Australians, at the core of their decisions. Expecting them to just do the right thing because we ask nicely is baffling. 

“We’re also seeing vested-interest lobby groups like the newly formed Data Centres Australia aggressively pushing to cut regulations that would protect Australians from the climate, environmental and social impacts of data centres. 

“Last year, the Albanese government abandoned its own recommended AI guardrails when it announced its National AI Plan — a move applauded by these lobby groups.

“The gas lobby has also now seized on data centre growth to justify extracting more gas, just as the world needs to rapidly phase out fossil fuels for energy security and to tackle the climate crisis. 

“We have a short and closing window to choose a different path in Australia — without strong guardrails, we risk replicating the US pattern where Big Tech corporations make huge profits at the expense of locals. The government must not roll out the red carpet to these corporations without adequate, legislated protections and scrutiny — not just ‘nice-to-haves’.”

ENDS

Media contact: 

Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]